Barriss Offee approached the wizened Jedi Master Yoda while the younglings were at recess in the gardens. They were playing hide-n-seek, Barriss smiled at the younglings she had fond memories of the crèche and the games they used to play.
"Jedi Offee?"
"Yes, Keri?"
"Is Mrs. Skywalker going to be okay?"
"We will see, Keri. Go play now."
Yoda smiled as Keri ran off to join the others.
"News you have for me, Jedi Offee?"
"Yes, master. It's not a good alternative, but it's the only one I can come up with, I doubt Anakin will go for it."
"Go on." Yoda motioned for her to sit next to him.
Barriss closed her dark blue eyes and allowed the Force to emanate through her before she spoke the next words. Master Yoda was very patient and waited while the Jedi took her time with what had to be the hardest words to say.
"Master Yoda, there might be a way to slow Padmé's heart before she gives birth and put her in an force-induced coma, surgically remove the newborn, then keep her in an stasis until her heart could heal. But the only thing is I don't know how long this could take, there are too many variables and Padmé might still die."
"Guess you can?"
"Possibly a few weeks or might be years, Master Yoda. I just don't know."
"Travel to Naboo you will, to offer this idea to Anakin."
"Me? No, Master Yoda, I would not be a good choice to break this news to him."
"Why not, know him do you not?"
"Yes, but we haven't worked together since the before the Clone Wars, I do not feel comfortable."
"Frightened are you?"
Barriss Offee wasn't scared but very leery, she knew how fiercely protective he was of his family. He wouldn't take the news well and she was uncertain of his reaction.
"I'm not frightened, Master Yoda, but I am leery of his possible reaction."
"A Master he is, the news will be difficult, but make the right decision he will. Trust in the Force I do."
Barriss Offee sighed deeply and bowed as she stood to her feet. "Master Yoda I will do as you ask."
Barriss decided that she did need to talk to Anakin's former master Obi-Wan Kenobi, he was working in the crèche with the newborns, he so loved children, it was odd that he didn't have any of his own yet.
"Good evening, Jedi Offee." Obi-Wan greeted as she entered the nursery. "I knew I would find you here Master Kenobi."
"I love younglings they are so sweet and innocent, after the war ended I needed to come here to center myself. Now I help out when I can, especially since Luke is spending time with his father and mother."
"Luke is a great kid, he has a charming innocence."
"He's got you fooled; he is as mischievous as Anakin ever was. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree."
Barriss Offee smiled she knew Anakin's pranks were most devious.
"Master Yoda has requested I go to Naboo to meet up with Anakin."
Master Kenobi nodded his head, "Say, are you hungry?" Obi-Wan asked.
"Yes, I'm a bit hungry; I don't think I've eaten since lunch."
"Come let's go to Dexter's, my treat."
Barriss wasn't surprised by Obi-Wan's choice of restaurant he knew the owner personally and she knew it was place that he and Anakin visited whenever they were on Coruscant together. Obi-Wan didn't take the news lightly and he knew that Anakin would be heart broken to the say the least. Barriss listened intently to Obi-Wan's wisdom, he knew his old apprentice better than anyone. After dinner, Barriss returned to her apartment to pack for the trip. She meditated before going to sleep, trying to get some answers from the Force. None were forthcoming and she decided to get a good nights rest, she would need it.
Mara Jade was just returning from her ride on her red swoop bike. Anakin was working in the garage when she saw him. "Enjoy your ride, padawan?"
"Yes, master. Thank you."
Luke was covered from head to toe in mud when he attempted to sneak into the house as was Leia. Anakin heard the loud shriek come from Padmé's mouth and heard the twin's names being shouted. Mara and Anakin ran into the foyer and found Padmé fighting to keep Luke in his place, but he was struggling out of her grip.
"Beloved let me help." Anakin lifted his hand and Luke was unable to move. He glared at his father, until Anakin moved into his Sith Lord Stance. Luke immediately backed down and sheepishly looked at his father's feet.
Leia smiled at Luke's predicament until she felt her father's gaze fall upon her as well.
"Kindly explain to me why you both are covered from head to toe in filth?" Anakin sighed as he released his mild irritation into the Force.
"She started it!" Luke yelled.
"No, I didn't I just finished it!" Leia replied.
Luke and Leia found themselves being dragged back through the door and they were walked into the back yard and Anakin turned the water hose on both of them. Luke and Leia yelled as the ice cold water hit them. Mara had retrieved two large bath towels and they wrapped themselves as they headed to a hot shower.
Barriss Offee picked up her bag and walking towards temple hanger bay; she went towards the star fighter that Anakin had designed. It was painted a bold yellow, to replace the one he lost on Grievous' ship. "Good morning, Barriss."
"Good morning, Master Tiin, I didn't expect anyone here this early."
"Heading to Naboo?"
"Yes."
"It is a beautiful planet. I know you will enjoy your stay."
Barriss Offee raised an eyebrow and shook her head. Master Tiin pulled her to him, "Don't be skeptical. Anakin has matured."
"I hope you are right, Master Tiin. For the news I have isn't going to be pleasant."
"Trust in the Force, Barriss."
Barriss hugged the gentle master and did feel better by his strength. He was a fierce warrior and Jedi Master but he did have a gentle side that showed occasionally, when it was needed. He also respected Anakin especially in his mechanical and technical skills, he allowed him in the hanger bay at an early age, even though it was frowned upon, but he was sneaking in anyway and it was better to have him in the hanger bay with supervision than without.
Luke and Leia were sent to their bedrooms for the afternoon to mediate. Luke was too excited to do anything of sort; he instead practiced his telekinesis skills.
"Luke Skywalker you are supposed to be meditating."
"Yes father." Luke scowled
Sometimes it just didn't pay to have a father that was incredibly powerful in the Force and a strong Jedi Master as well.
Luke put up his T-16 sky hopper and sat in the dark corner of his bedroom, crossed his legs, and put his hands on his knees palms up; he concentrated on his breathing and fell into a light trance.
Mara was studying by her favorite tree, soon Anakin would be giving her a final exam and she was nervous. Han Solo approached her munching on an apple when climbed the tree watching Mara.
"Solo?"
"Jaded?"
"What do you want?" Mara asked already exasperated.
"Boy you Jedi get so irritated when you are studying. Don't you believe in having fun anymore?"
"Yes, but if I don't pass this exam, Master Skywalker will have some devious plan for me, I'm sure of it."
"Maybe we should have a devious plan for him then? How long has it been since we pulled a prank on him?"
"No way, Solo! I am not going there again, forget it!"
Solo smiled, he loved it when the red-headed got fired up, as it was exciting.
"I'll give you some excitement, Solo!" Mara picked up on his thought and pulled him out of the tree. Han Solo threw the apple core at her and ran. Mara pulled the Force in around her and sped up and knocked Han Solo into a large mud pit, that Luke and Leia had found irresistible earlier that same day. Solo started laughing as did Mara Jade until she saw a tall dark shadow fall over them. "Uh-oh." Mara turned around and sure enough her Jedi Master was standing in the infamous Sith Lord Stance.
"Mara Jade and Han Solo what do you think you are doing? Aren't you both a bit old to play in the mud? Mara Jade, aren't you supposed to be studying for the final?"
"It was my fault, sir." Han piped up.
"Get cleaned up the both of you." Anakin ordered and Mara watched Han pick up a handful of mud to sling.
"Don't!" Mara seethed.
It was too late; Anakin felt a clump of wet mud hit him squarely between his shoulders. Mara attempted to stand but slipped on the wet mud and fell on her back. Anakin turned around and Han Solo picked up another handful of mud and threw it at Anakin it hit his shirt.
"You want to play, Han Solo?" Anakin sarcastically asked.
Mara desperately tried to jump out of the way when she saw her master gather the force around him and jumped on top of Han and the ensuing mud fight began. Mara cried out when the two overly charged men rolled over and continued their wrestling.
Luke and Leia looked out their windows and saw the ensuing fight. They both ran downstairs and Leia took one look at Han and joined the fray without giving it a second thought. Luke tackled his father. Padmé had been trying to take a nap when she heard the shouts and yelling.
Just then the doorbell rang, she answered the door to see Jedi Barriss Offee standing there holding a bag.
"Barriss Offee?"
"Yes, milady; is Master Skywalker home?"
"Yes, he is. Come."
Padmé and Barriss walked to the back yard and saw not only her two children filthy again, but so were Anakin, Mara Jade and Han Solo.
Barriss Offee muffled a bit of laughter at the sight, all five of them were absolutely filthy.
"Ahem." Padmé cleared her throat.
Anakin immediately stood and saw Barriss Offee standing there trying so hard to not laugh.
"Barriss!" Anakin went to go hug her and she quickly backed away.
"Oh, sorry; I am a little dirty."
"A little, that's an understatement of the year, Anakin Skywalker." Padmé scolded.
"Yes, dear; Come along guys let's get cleaned up. Padmé dearest, could you show Barriss her guest room while we get cleaned up again?"
Barriss followed Padmé to a spare bedroom it was painted a soothing lilac and matching curtains and bedspread.
"This is a beautiful home, milady."
"Please call me Padmé; I don't like all that formality."
"Okay, Padmé."
"Dinner is at five o'clock, if you are hungry now I can make a light snack."
"No, Padmé that's fine."
"It's nice to have you here, Barriss. Anakin's told me a few of your adventures when you were still padawans."
"Yes, I bet he did." Barriss smiled.
Author's Note:Thank you as always for your kind reviews. Sorry to leave it hanging for again. A few more chapters and I will be wrapping this story up, it's already starting to come to an end.—Darth Gladiator45